By AVI CREDITOR

Could crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions League been the best thing that could have happened to the Los Angeles Galaxy?

In the big picture, of course not, but in terms of the team's Major League Soccer aspirations (and MFLS impact), having a less hectic schedule definitely helps keeps the stars and starters playing on a regular basis.

With the Galaxy's matchup against Kansas City this week, the full-strength Western Conference power gets a crack at home against an Eastern Conference minnow that is 1-6-2 and has mustered just four goals on the road. Start your Galaxy players with confidence this week. 

That being said, here are this week's player rankings by position:

FANTASY MLS WEEK 22 PLAYER RANKINGS

GOALKEEPERS

1. Donovan Ricketts, LA – Already owns a clean sheet at Kansas City and gets another crack at the Wizards at the friendly HDC confines
2. Matt Reis, NE – Revolution are desperate for a top-notch effort at home against the Union, and it all starts with Reis in the back
3. Bouna Coundoul, NY – Will look to put the shackles on an improved Earthquakes attack at RBA
4. Will Hesmer, CLB – Has a tremendous task in trying to stop Dallas, but playing behind a rested Chad Marshall and in front of the home crowd gives Hesmer an edge
5. Nick Rimando, RSL – Will have to find a way to put the final 15 minutes of Wednesday night's loss to Cruz Azul behind him
6. Kevin Hartman, DAL – Hartman's been one of the top acquisitions of the season, but can he keep up his form with the schedule taking a turn for the worse?
7. Zach Thornton, CHV – United's road scoring rate is not very appealing
8. Matt Pickens, COL – Dynamo are a bit too inconsistent offensively, and Colorado has shown well defensively at home
9. Stefan Frei, TOR – Best case scenario: Frei and the Reds capitalize on a demoralized RSL side after its Champions League fiasco Wednesday night
10. Jimmy Nielsen, KC – Has already managed to keep the Galaxy off the scoreboard once this season, but that was at the narrow, Wizard-friendly CommunityAmerica Ballpark

DEFENDERS

1. Sean Franklin, LA – Galaxy appear to have the best chance at a clean sheet this week
2. Omar Gonzalez, LA – With Gonzalez marking Kei Kamara, it'll take someone else to step up for Kansas City and its anemic offense (19 goals in 20 matches) to score
3. Todd Dunivant, LA – Eyes a return after dealing with neck spasms that have caused him to miss the last two matches
4. Darrius Barnes, NE – Barnes-Danny Mwanga matchup will be one to keep an eye on, but the Revs get the edge at Gillette
5. Chris Albright, NY – Brings an attacking aspect from the back that the Red Bulls had been lacking
6. Tim Ream, NY – Has meshed well with Carlos Mendes in central defense and will have to keep an eye on San Jose newcomers Geovanni and Khari Stephenson
7. Chad Marshall, CLB – Rested and ready to roll in one of the marquee matchups of the week
8. Robbie Russell, RSL – Healthier option than Jamison Olave (knee sprain), has a pretty solid matchup and is the No. 1-scoring MFLS defender
9. Heath Pearce, DAL – Tough matchup against the Crew, but his offensive capabilities can't be overlooked
10. Jonathan Bornstein, CHV – Not a bad play considering he's at home against a weaker opponent and could see minutes in the midfield

MIDFIELDERS

1. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, CLB – Rested in Champions League play to spearhead the Crew's effort in a tough home match against streaking FC Dallas
2. Javier Morales, RSL – Salt Lake playmaker gets a crack at a fickle Toronto defense
3. Marko Perovic, NE – Listed as questionable on the injury report, but his home matchup against the Union is too good to pass up; He's already scored on the Union once this season
4. Sebastien Le Toux, PHI – Like Perovic, Le Toux scored the last time the Revs and Union met
5. David Ferreira, DAL – MVP candidate should test normally disciplined Crew back line
6. Michael Stephens, LA – Has a nice home matchup with the Wizards to get involved offensively
7. Marco Pappa, CHI – Disappointed with his two-game slate last week, but should be a big part of Chicago's lethal attack going forward
8. Brek Shea, DAL – Has scored at least four fantasy points in his last three matches
9. Dwayne De Rosario, TOR – Finally ended his goal drought with a score against New York last week, but it came in a three-goal loss; Could suffer the same fate against a potent RSL attack
10. Alvaro Fernandez, SEA – The DP that could end up have the biggest impact on the anticipated Seattle-Chicago tilt at Qwest
11. Freddie Ljungberg, CHI – The matchup Seattle fans have been waiting for ever since Ljungberg was shipped out of town
12. Rafael Marquez, NY – Golazo at Toronto indicates that the real Rafa has arrived in MLS
13. Mehdi Ballouchi, COL – Offensively challenged Rapids should be able to rebound against shaky Dynamo D
14. Steve Zakuani, SEA – Questionable on the latest injury report, but should still play and create headaches for Chicago's shaky D
15. Chris Wondolowski, SJ – Goals in two straight matches, eight on the year, for one of the biggest offensive surprises; Already scored on NY once this season

FORWARDS

1. Edson Buddle, LA – Was held scoreless his last time out, but still has four goals in his last six matches; The closest the game has to a sure-thing in terms of goal-scoring
2. Landon Donovan, LA – Where there's a Buddle goal, there's typically a Donovan assist to go along with it
3. Juan Pablo Angel, NY – Nobody wants to make up for Red Bulls' embarrassing 4-0 loss at Buck Shaw Stadium than the then-ineffective Angel
4. Fredy Montero, SEA – New-look Chicago is improved, but that defense is its Achilles' heel and Montero should take full advantage
5. Conor Casey, COL – Tallied one of his four non-PK goals against Dynamo earlier this season
6. Alvaro Saborio, RSL – About as consistent of a threat there is in the game, although Champions League minutes could take their toll on him this week
7. Justin Braun, CHV – Fantastic matchup for Braun to build on his already impressive campaign
8. Brian Ching, HOU – Hat-trick hero looked rejuvenated last week against Chicago
9. Thierry Henry, NY – All is good for Henry while NY is winning, but Henry's production needs to pick up before the inevitable questions get asked
10. Steven Lenhart, CLB – With four goals in his last four matches, Lenhart is on a roll; Already owns an assist against FCD this season

COACHES

1. Bruce Arena, LA
2. Hans Backe, NY
3. Steve Nicol, NE
4. Jason Kreis, RSL
5. Martin Vasquez, CHV
6. Schellas Hyndman, DAL
7. Robert Warzycha, CLB
8. Sigi Schmid, SEA
9. Gary Smith, COL
10. Carlos de los Cobos, CHI

Soccer By Ives League Standings (Top 10)
1. Cpt. Pancakes and Lt. Waffles………563 points
2. Campione……………………………………..562
3. I <3 MLS…………………………………………556
4. FC Byrd Turgler……………………………..555
5. Yankee Racers……………………………..543
6. Skillz………………………………………………540
7. The Lanark Ave Creepers……………..505
8. CleartheBall…………………………………..504
9. MassiveVictory……………………………….502
10. Eves1…………………………………………..500

LAST WEEK'S SBI LEAGUE TOP SCORER

Brooklyn Psychos (37 points)

——————————Rimando(0)—————————
–Marshall(6)——————Ream(4)—————–Riley(0)–
–Ljungberg(8)–Lindpere(3)–De Rosario(1)–Beckerman(0)–
–Kamara(13)————-Cunningham(1)————Casey(-2)–

Coach: Backe(3)

Soccer By Ives Prediction League Standings (Top 10)
1. The Cool Hands…………………………356 points
2. FC Byrd Turgler………………………….350
3. I <3 MLS……………………………………..344
4. Ludacris Speed………………………….340
5. The Royal Army…………………………..338
6. Sonnenhof…………………………………..332
6. Gene's Old Boys…………………………332
8. Morales' mullet…………………………..317
9. Bluefish United………………………….316
10. UTGunners………………………………313

LAST WEEK'S SBI PREDICTION LEAGUE TOP SCORERS

The Royal Army (27 points: 1 exact, 3 correct margin, 2 correct)

Guillermo's Golazos (27 points: 2 exact, 1 correct margin, 1 blowout, 2 correct)

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Who do you think is in for a big Week 22? What's your lineup looking like?

Share your thoughts below.